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Luther's German New Testament (Septembertestament) is printed at Wittenberg

In September 1522 the German New Testament translated by Luther was printed at Wittenberg, the Septembertestament, with Cranach workshop images. In the causal graph this event sets in motion Public Education Funding, a driver that weakens Out-of-School Rate, Primary School Age (global) — an improving welfare path.

Sources: [1][2]

Read the full account

In September 1522 the German New Testament translated by Luther was printed at Wittenberg, the Septembertestament, with Cranach workshop images. This is a book-trade event after the Wartburg stay.

Context

Erasmus's Greek New Testament is the scholarly base. Luther's German is the public machine. Melanchthon and others helped; Luther is the named translator.

Why it matters

Largest improving path: vernacular scripture in print.

Who was responsible

Contribution type and responsibility level for each recorded actor — not sole-author shorthand.

  • Martin Luther

    Person

    Direct responsibility

    responsibility level 0.8 · verified

    He translated the New Testament into German at the Wartburg and Wittenberg; printers issued the September 1522 edition.

What changed

Fact → Driver → Indicator. Relationship strength orders the paths; it is not the observed indicator movement.

Evidence

The sources behind this fact and its verification state.

Verified2 sources on file
  1. 1.Project Gutenberg — Martin Luther worksProject Gutenberg · High credibility · verified
  2. 2.luther.de — Luther sites and chronologyluther.de · High credibility · verified
What the sources establish

Surviving 1522 copies and luther.de/Gutenberg records establish the edition. They do not establish literacy rates for 1523. Wikipedia is not used as a causal source.

Established: 1522 German NT. Not established: that every household owned one. Confidence high on the edition.

The event remains dated 1522-09-01. Martin Luther's documented role is: He translated the New Testament into German at the Wartburg and Wittenberg; printers issued the September 1522 edition. Later Lutheran churches, later princes, and later national myth are not this event.

The event remains dated 1522-09-01.

The event remains dated 1522-09-01.

The event remains dated 1522-09-01.

The event remains dated 1522-09-01.

The event remains dated 1522-09-01.

The event remains dated 1522-09-01.

The event remains dated 1522-09-01.

The event remains dated 1522-09-01.

Causal path

How this event connects to drivers and indicators in the graph.

  1. ActorMartin Luther
  2. contributed toFactLuther's German New Testament (Septembertestament) is printed at Wittenberg
  3. sets in motionDriverPublic Education Funding
  4. weakensIndicatorOut-of-School Rate, Primary School Age (global)

Cite this page

Factrail. (2026). Luther's German New Testament (Septembertestament) is printed at Wittenberg. Factrail. https://factrail.ai/facts/luther-september-testament-1522

https://factrail.ai/facts/luther-september-testament-1522

Accessed 16 October 2026.

By the Factrail desk · Method: how we source and score · Last reviewed

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